Chapter 40 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

Chapter 40:

Avoidance Soup

"Xiliu is truly unlucky to follow that Miss. She's such a good person, yet she had to endure a beating for no reason. It's midsummer, and her backside must be all bruised," Ping Ye complained as she returned after delivering medication to Wu'er.

Tao Ye, with ears hardened from hearing the same lament, advised, "Your goodwill is enough. Don't dwell on it. If the people in Yu Shou Tang hear you, it might stir up trouble again."

In these days, Lin Yunwan was busy organizing things in the house.

Just as she returned, she heard Tao Ye's words. Lin Yunwan entered, lifting the curtain, and said, "Tao Ye is right. Ping Ye, be careful with your words."

Ping Ye stuck out her tongue and said, "I understand, Mistress."

Seeing that Lin Yunwan's lips were a bit pale, Ping Ye hurriedly brought a tray with tea and said, "Mistress, the temperature of the water is just right."

Lian Yunwan took the tea and asked, "How is Xiliu? Is she feeling better?"

Ping Ye: "She's getting better. However, there is no senior maid serving by Miss's side now, and she happens to be assigned to attend to Miss."

Lin Yunwan instructed, "Continue to persuade her. If she really can't cope, you don't have to report back to me promptly. Use your own judgment; life is the top priority."

"Yes."

With closed eyes, Lin Yunwan recalled Xiliu's situation from her past life...

She had just woken up that day, preparing to attend to matters in the council hall, when she heard that a maid had thrown herself into the well.

She had been in the Lu family for so many years, and it was the first time she had heard of a maid committing such an act.

In the past, she had thought it was just a conflict between maids, a momentary impulse.

Now, thinking about it, it might be related to Ge Bao'er!

"Madam, Misstress Zhuqing is here."

The maid serving outside came in to deliver a message.

"Another visit?" It was not disdain in her tone, but curiosity.

Lin Yunwan had instructed to keep Aunt Zhuqing away to avoid suspicion, so why did she come so frequently lately?

"Let her in."

Ping Ye went out to escort Zhuqing in for a conversation. Zhuqing had a troubled expression, lacking the radiant demeanor she had a few days ago.

Lin Yunwan instructed the maids to prepare tea and asked Zhuqing, "What happened? There are dark circles under your eyes."

Zhuqing sighed, "Madam has sharp eyes. I haven't slept well these days."

She glanced at the maids in the room.

Lin Yunwan waved her hand, dismissing the maids, and asked Zhuqing, "Just speak your mind."

Zhuqing hesitated and said, "Madam, the young master recently asked me to drink an anti-fertility potion."

She continued with frustration, "It's truly strange. The mistress doesn't force me to take any medicine, yet the young master insists I drink this potion!"

Lin Yunwan inquired, "You're not young anymore, right?"

With a heavy heart, Zhuqing replied, "I'm already twenty-five." She was two years older than the madam and had no children of her own.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "If I get any older, who knows if I'll still be able to conceive. The young master is truly unkind."

Lin Yunwan remained silent.

Lin Yunwan thought to herself that Zhuqing could still conceive, albeit with average fertility. Despite being with Lu Zhengliu for many years, she only had one child. Nevertheless, it was still better than Lin Yunwan, who spent her entire life raising someone else's son.

Zhuqing wiped away her tears and murmured, "He was perfectly fine not long ago. Why suddenly ask me to take this medicine?" She looked at Lin Yunwan, hoping for an answer.

Lin Yunwan gazed back at Zhuqing and replied, "What do you think?"

Zhuqing was taken aback, a strange thought flashing through her mind.

She smiled, "I'm dull-witted, and I don't understand."

Although she said so, after returning to Yue Xing Ting and pondering for a long time, she gradually grasped a clue.

On a auspicious day in July, everyone in the Lu family went to pay respects to Old Madam Lu.

Zhuqing ran into Ge Bao'er and privately chatted with her, "Miss, you look radiant. Even with the veil, one can see your rosy complexion."

Ge Bao'er touched her cheek and replied, "It's just the hot weather, making me feel warm."

She didn't want to talk much with Zhuqing, after all, she was now only a woman with the status of "awaiting marriage", she shouldn't be seen talking with Lu Zhengliu's concubine.

"Mistress, if there's nothing else, I'll go and attend to Old Madam Lu first," Ge Bao'er said.

Zhuqing smiled faintly, not stopping her.

Even though Ge Bao'er had left, she felt a chill down her spine, as if someone was watching her!

On this day, she went with Yan Mama to the temple to offer incense again. She planned to stay in the temple for a few days, saying that she wanted to pray for the deceased parents.

"May the Bodhisattva bless..."

Ge Bao'er knelt in front of the Bodhisattva, earnestly praying, not for her foster parents, but for her biological parents.

"Bless Bao'er to reunite with her parents soon, bless Qing Ge'er to meet her maternal grandparents soon..."

Even though she knew the hope was faint, she still wished for a day when she could reunite with her biological parents. As Lu Zhengliu mentioned, the jade pendant left in her swaddling clothes was of considerable value, made from jade that ordinary families couldn't afford!

"The young master is here," Yan Mama appeared behind Ge Baoer, whispering to remind her.

Ge Bao'er immediately opened her eyes and went to meet Lu Zhengliu in the side chamber.

Mother Yan waited outside, feeling a bit uncomfortable. The pure and serene atmosphere of the Buddhist temple clashed with the arduous situation caused by Ge Bao'er.

As for the young master, he really went too far, allowing this little troublemaker to act recklessly.

After the deed was done, Lu Zhengliu held Ge Bao'er's hand, caressing the bamboo bracelet. He asked, "Why do you still wear this bracelet?"

Ge Bao'er smiled as she reminisced, "When I was in the bloom of youth, you wanted to give me something precious, but I refused. You just pulled a piece of bamboo and made a bracelet for me, and that's when I agreed to accept it."

Lu Zhengliu also smiled faintly. It was something he did in his youth, and now, asking him to make such a thing for a woman was out of the question.

"This bracelet is very inexpensive, easily found anywhere," said Lu Zhengliu. "The Old Madam hasn't failed to give you jewelry. You can wear more valuable ones in the future."

Shaking her head, Ge Bao'er hugged him and asked, "A'Zheng, have you forgotten the meaning of this bracelet?"

"I haven't forgotten." Solely based on that bracelet, this silly girl entrusted him with her purity. So, he had promised, "When I return, I'll marry you and get you a jade bracelet."

Later on, he was forced to marry Lin Yunwan.

The bracelet hadn't had a chance to be replaced for Ge Bao'er yet.

Lu Zhengliu suddenly remembered Lin Yunwan, feeling somewhat absent-minded. If he had married Lin Yunwan first before his fateful meeting with Ge Bao'er, would he have made the same promise to Ge Bao'er?

His own question startled him.

"A'Zheng, what's wrong?"

Lu Zhengliu snapped back to reality, his tone indifferent. "Nothing."

Ge Bao'er thought he was still upset about that matter and apologized meekly, "A'Zheng, it's only natural for Sister Zhuqing to bear your children. But I... I just don't want other women to have your children."

"A'Zheng, I'm just that petty, you know?" She stated her position confidently.

"I know. I'm not angry." Because he didn't make Zhuqing drink the contraceptive potion because of Ge Bao'er's words.

Ge Bao'er returned home three days later. Coincidentally, she ran into Zhuqing again.

"Hello, Miss Ge. Your complexion is really good. It seems that worshiping the Buddha can indeed purify the mind and improve one's complexion."

Ge Bao'er's expression soured.

What's the matter with this Zhuqing? If her eyes are sharp, that's one thing, but she keeps staring at her!

"If Sister Zhuqing is restless, she can also try worshiping the Buddha."

Zhuqing smiled and said, "I can't do that. I can't calm down like Miss. I'm a restless person."

Ge Bao'er exchanged a few polite words with her and quickly left.

Lin Yunwan approached and asked Zhuqing, "What were you talking about with Miss?"

Zhuqing bowed and said, "Young Madam, nothing much. Young Madam, why are you coming to Old Madam's place at this time?"

Lin Yunwan's face became serious, and she held something in her sleeve, saying, "I came to discuss an urgent matter with Madam. It's good that you're here; come in with us."

Zhuqing followed, looking doubtful.

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